Patrick Commins

Patrick ComminsEconomics Correspondent

Patrick Commins is The Australian’s economics correspondent, based in Canberra. Before joining the newspaper he worked for more than a decade at The Australian Financial Review, where he was a columnist and senior writer. Patrick was previously a research analyst at the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority.

@ComminsP

Latest

Interest ratesEconomics

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos JUNE 3, 2022: Generic power and gas images. Electricity meter. PHOTO: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

Inflation ‘may drop below 3pc by July’

Billions of dollars worth of energy rebates will leave household electricity prices 30 per cent lower and push inflation down, but will still not be enough to trigger an early interest rate cut, economists say.

Patrick Commins

BudgetPolitics

CANBERRA, Australia, NewsWire Photos. May 22, 2024: Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor addresses the National Press Club of Australia in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Coalition vows restraint, but no repeat of ‘scorched earth’

Opposition Treasury spokesman Angus Taylor says a Coalition government would restrain spending and taxing, and focus on boosting productivity.

Patrick Commins

energyPolitics

(FILES) This photograph taken on July 24, 2023, shows cooling towers at the Bugey Nuclear Power Plant in Bugey in the Saint-Vulbas commune, eastern France. Driven by a renewed interest in the atom, EDF intends to implement third-generation reactors (EPR) in France and Europe (Photo by Emmanuel DUNAND / AFP)

CSIRO runs ruler over value of large-scale nuclear power

A large-scale nuclear plant would take at least 15 years and about $8.6bn to build, but produce electricity substantially more cheaply than small-scale reactors, according to the nation’s peak science body.

Patrick Commins

EconomyNation

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - Daily Telegraph Photos - Tuesday, 26 December, 2023:Sydney boxing day sales crowd shots. Picture: Daily Telegraph / Monique Harmer

Risks around inflation are up: RBA

The Reserve Bank board considered the case for a 14th interest rate hike at its meeting earlier this month, as members repeated their resolve to ‘do what is necessary’ to control inflation.

Patrick Commins and Cliona O'Dowd

BudgetPolitics

A generic photo of a an LNG ship in Darwin Harbour, Gas , Exports Picture: Glenn Campbell

Revenue lower as tax law beefed up

Labor’s success in passing its beefed-up PRRT has been undermined by budget figures showing Treasury expects to collect $750m less in revenue from the tax over the five years to 2028.

Patrick Commins

BudgetNation

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA: Newswire Photos: JANUARY 10 2024: Minister Chris Bowen is in Sydney today and addresses the media in a press conference to discuss climate and energy news of the day. Photo by: NCA Newswire/ Gaye Gerard

$300 rebate meant to influence RBA on rates: Bowen

The Energy Minister has admitted the $300 in power bill relief for every household was a deliberate attempt to buy a lower inflation outcome and put pressure on the RBA to cut rates.

Joe Kelly and Patrick Commins

unemploymentNation

Generic jobs, manufacturing, trades Picture: Getty Images

Rate hopes rise as jobless jump

The chance of a rate cut by the end of this year has jumped to 50 per cent, according to financial markets, after jobs figures showed a surprise jump in the unemployment rate to 4.1 per cent in April.

Patrick Commins and Joe Kelly

inflationPolitics

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - MAY 15: Treasurer of Australia, the Hon Dr Jim Chalmers MP during post budget media interviews at Parliament House on May 15, 2024 in Canberra, Australia. Australia's Labor government is grappling with a slowing economy, weaker commodity prices, soaring housing costs and a softening labor market. It unveiled its federal budget on May 14. The budget is seen as a key opportunity for the Labor government to deliver broad economic support that analysts say is fundamental to re-election chances next year. (Photo by Tracey Nearmy/Getty Images)

Taxpayers in stages of grief over budget

The benefits of stage three tax cuts will vanish for workers in four years, Treasury says, with the budget being widely panned by economists as adding to inflation pressures.

Patrick Commins, David Tanner and Rosie Lewis

budget 2024Nation

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - MAY 14: Australia's Treasurer Jim Chalmers (Front R) and Finance Minister Katy Gallagher (Front L) arrive for the budget lock-up at Parliament House on May 14, 2024 in Canberra, Australia. Australia's Labor government is grappling with a slowing economy, weaker commodity prices, soaring housing costs and a softening labor market as it prepares to unveil its federal budget on May 14. To counter these headwinds, the budget is expected to feature smaller revenue upgrades compared to recent years, while outlining the government's interventionist policies aimed at boosting domestic manufacturing and the transition to green energy. Critics warn that such industrial policies risk fueling inflation and diverting resources from more productive sectors of the economy. The budget is seen as a key opportunity for the Labor government to deliver broad economic support that analysts say is fundamental to re-election chances next year. (Photo by Tracey Nearmy/Getty Images)

Taxman’s take about to hit an 18-year high

The nation’s tax burdern will hit an 18-year high before $23 billion in personal income tax relief hits.

Patrick Commins

federal budgetNation

Labor sets scene for a decade of deficits

Labor’s third budget has revealed $14.4bn in budget blowouts over the four years to 2026-27 as the Albanese government spends big on extra cost of living support.

Patrick Commins

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/patrick-commins/page/5